Spring cleaning too often involves the use of sprays, bleach, powders and other potential toxic chemicals.

There´s however an alternative way of achieving that sense of deep, clean, fresh home without jeopardising your health and the health of your family.

Let´s start with the obvious:

1. Reduce: Start by making your spring cleaning job easier by going through all your draws and cupboards and by getting rid of all the items you dont need.  Create a pile of all the clothes and shoes you dont wear anymore, you might be able to turn some of your old T-Shirts into cleaning cloths.  If some of your clothing items are still in good quality, donate them to friends (only if they are that way minded, some people can get very offended otherwise) or to a charity shop.  Someone somewhere will want to wear them.  When you´ve finished with clothes, divert your attention to books, magazines and your paperwork.  Apply the same logic by selecting books you wont read, magazines you wont use and so on.  When you have finished, just take them to a charity shop or take them to the recycling paper centre. Then do the same with toys, kitchen ustensils, garden furniture.

2. Organise yourself: Now that you have decluttered your home, you´re ready to move to the next stage.  You need to be ultra keen when it comes to organising the stuff you have left.  If you cant find what you have, then there´s no point having it in the first place.  We´re not suggesting you go out there and buy new storage containers, you shouldnt have to as you have less stuff to organise.

3. Choose Eco friendly cleaning products: Ditch all your currenty cleaning products which are non eco friendly.  why? they´re not good for your health and for the planet.  If you dont throw them away now, you´ll use them again so go on.  To buy eco friendly cleaning products, you can either visit the online retail shops like www.ecotopia.co.uk , www.ethicalsuperstore.com  or you can look directly for these brands which most of them can be found in your local supermarket: Ecover www.ecover.com , Activ8 http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/brand/activ8/183/activ8.html and http://www.biggreensmile.com/departments/household-utility.aspx?deptid=HOUSEHOLD.  All these brands have been created with your health and the environment in mind.

4. Make your own cleaning products: Want to take that spring cleaning to the green extremes? Then why not make your own green cleaning products.  It´s easy and you will save tons of money over the year.  You´ll be sure to spray the right thing around your kids.  See our tips below but you will need baking soda, washing soda, borax, water, vinegar, lemon juice, some basic detergent in liquid form:

All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 tsp washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply as required.

Window Cleaner

1/4-1/2 tsp liquid detergent
3 tbs vinegar
2 cups water
spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit.  Use as you would with previous products.

Oven Cleaner

1 cup or more of baking soda
water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface it totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top, then let the mixture set overnight.

You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn't work for you it is probably because you didn't use enough baking soda and/or water.

Furniture Polish

1/2 tsp oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice

Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

That´s it, enjoy your spring clean and please dont forget to send us your comments. info@cooltribe.com